Apparatus for feeding a multifilament strand



Jan. 1, 1963 G. E. BENSON ETAL APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A MULTIFILAMENT STRAND Filed July 11, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS 605m 5 BEA/$0M &

By HERBERT Saunas/e5 2. V 6 2 G. E. BENSON ETAL 3,071,301

Jan 1, 1963 APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A MULTIFILAMENT STRAND 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 11, 1960 IN VEN TORS Gusmv 5 55/4/50 HERBERT SAUNDERS Jan. 1, 1963 G. E. BENSON ETAL 3,0

APPARATUS FOR FEEDING A MULTIFILAMENT STRAND Filed July 11, 1960 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 |B1nnnn saw INVENTORJ' Gusmv E film/$0M & I BY HERBERT SAUNDERS ATTORNEYS Delaware Filed July 11, 1960, Ser. No. 41,977 8 Ciaims. (Cl. 226-18) This invention relates to rotary apparatus for feeding and/or attenuating a continuous multifilament strand. More particularly, this invention is directed to rotary means consisting of a high speed pulling wheel so designed that its peripheral surface is in contact with the continuous multifilament strand being fed, and a spider wheel having a plurality of protuberances that extend outward through the peripheral surface of the pulling wheel during a relatively small arc of rotation of both wheels for removing the strand from the pulling Wheel at a predetermined point.

In the past, multifilament strands of continuous fibers have been fed by passing them around portions of the peripheries of wheels or other rotary instrumentalities and imparting to the strands high lineal speeds. However, the throw of the strand from a wheel puller of the prior art tended to be erratic because the strand left the periphery of the wheel at various points.

In an attempt to solve this problem, the pulling wheel, which was rotated on its normal axis, was provided with a spider wheel which was mounted for rotational movement about an axis parallel to this normal aXis. The pulling wheel had spaced peripheral lugs, and the outer surface of these lugs formed an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion. The spider wheel had radial arms or spokes which were movable through the space between adjacent lugs on the pulling wheel, and contact between the lugs and the spokes rotated the spider wheel. Because of the high speed at which the pulling wheel was rotated, the impact of the lugs upon the spokes was sutficient to break the spokes, and this usually occurred when both wheels were rotating at some speed lower than normal operating speeds.

We have found that by providing means other than the engagement of the lugs and spokes to drive the spider wheel, these problems are eliminated. The addition of a driving means to the spider wheel to rotate it in synchronization with the pulling wheel prevents the lugs from striking the spokes and breaking them.

It is, therefore, the principal object of this invention to I provide a means for continuously pulling a glass strand or a group of filaments from'a melting unit, bushing or other source without winding the strand onto a tube or mandrel so that the strand may be thrown into additional equipment for further processing.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rotating pulling wheel upon which a strand of glass filaments is partially Wrapped for feeding and consistently removed therefrom at the same point so as to provide a strand which is discharged linearly along a single, fixed path.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a rotating pulling wheel with a spider wheel which is independently driven in synchronization therewith.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an independently driven spider wheel which has a diameter that is substantially less than the diameter of the pulling wheel, and the spokes of which move outward through spaces in the periphery of the pulling wheel in a relatively small arc of rotation of both wheels.

A better understanding of the objects, advantages, and operation of the apparatus embodying the invention will 3 ,071,301 Patented Jan. 1, 1963 be achieved from the following specification and from the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of apparatus embodying the invention as employed for the attenuation and feeding of a multifilament glass fiber strand;

FIG. 2 is a view partially in section and partially in plan of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the pulling wheel and strand removal means and taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view, partially in elevation and partially in section of a pulling wheel illustrating a modified type of strand removal means which is driven in synchronization with the pulling wheel;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view in elevation of a modified type of pulling wheel which drives the strand removal means in synchronization therewith; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5.

A multifilament glass fiber strand is commercially formed by attenuating a plurality of individual glass fibers 10 from individual streams of glass which flow through minute orifices in the bottom of a glass melter or supply tank generally indicated at 11. The fibers 10 are associated together to form a strand 12 by being led over a suitably shaped guide 13 after they have contacted an applicator generally indicated at 14 which transfers a controlled quantity of liquid to the fibers 10.

The liquid applied to the fibers 10 by the applicator 14 may be a size, adhesive, a lubricant or any liquid intended to make the strand compatible with materials with which it is later to be associated or it may simply be water. The purposes of the liquid, in addition to any subsequent purposes such as compatability, adhesion, etc., include: first,

to create intra-strand integrity and, -second, to wet the strand and strand contacting portions of the rotary pulling apparatus embodying the invention.

After leaving the guide 13, the strand 12 is passed around an idler wheel 15 and guided into peripheral contact with a pulling wheel generally indicated at 16. The pulling wheel 16 has a rim 17 of general cylindrical shape and is mounted upon a shaft 18 which is driven by a motor 19 and rotated at a high speed in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) in FIG. 1.

The material from which the wheel 16 is fabricated and the liquid with which the fibers 10 are coated must be such that the liquid applied to the fibers 10 and carried to the surface of the wheel 16 will wet the surfaces. It should also be noted that the liquid may be applied directly to the wheel 16 rather than to the fibers 10, for example, by misting or spraying the liquid onto the wheel 16 rather than by applying it to the fibers 111 which carry it onto the surface of the wheel 16, as shown in FIG. 1.

Apparently the surface tension of the liquid wetting the peripheral surfaces of the wheel 16 and also the strand 12 gives the wheel 16 ample tr-aotive force to pull the strand 12 around the idler 15 and to attenuate the 200 or more filaments 10 of which the strand 12 is comprised. It is also theorized that the inward tension on the strand 12 created by the belt effect of wrapping the strand 12 around the exterior of the wheel 16 provides tractive or attenuating force.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, the pulling wheel 16 is provided with a spider wheel 20 to remove the strand 12 at a predetermined point. Independent drive means in the formof a gear train 21 is used to drive the spider wheel 20 from the shaft 18. This gear train com-prises a drivin gear 22 secure-d to the shaft 18 and a transfer or idler gear 23 which drives a driven gear 24 that is rigidly secured to the hub 25 of the spider wheel 20.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 2, the driving gear 22 is also secured to the pulling wheel 16 by means of suit able screws 26 to make centain that the driving gear 22 rotates at the same speed as the pulling wheel 16 and to prevent slippage therebetween. A cover plate 27 is rigidly secured to a housing 28 on the motor 18 by means of suitable screws 29 as shown in FIG. 2.

A ring 30 is mounted on the rim 17 of the pulling wheel 16. The ring 30 has an inwardly turned flange 31 adjacent the cover plate 27 and which overlies a circumferential lip 32 which extends outwardly from the edge of the cover plate 27. The ring 30 rotates with the wheel 16 and serves as a retainer for the rim 17 while guiding the strand 12. The arrangement of the flange 31 on the ring 30 and the lip 32 on the plate 27 restricts the entry of air as well as foreign material into the interior of the wheel 16. Such an arrangement prevents not only damage to the gear train 21 by the foreign material but also pumping of air radially outwardly from the interior of the wheel 16 which would cause the strand 12 to leave the rim 17.

The cover plate 27 mounts the spider wheel for rotation about an axis substantially parallell to the axis of the shaft 18 and which is located closer to the peripheral surface of the pulling wheel 16 than to the shaft 18. More particularly, a stub shaft 33 extends through a suitable aperture in the cover plate 27 and mounts a pair of spaced ball bearings 34 having their inner races fitted on the shaft 33 while their outer races are fitted in the bore of the gear 24. Endwise movement of the shaft 33 along the bearings 34 is prevented by a shoulder 35 on one end thereof and a nut 36 on the opposite end.

The spider wheel 20 mounts a plurality of arms or outwardly extending spokes 37 which extend through tapered slots 38 in the periphery of the pulling wheel 16. As shown in FIG. 3, the slots 38 are between the circumferentially spaced elements that form an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface on the wheel 16 for strand contact and adhesion. The spokes 37 are received in suitable slots in the hub of the spider wheel 20 and are retained therein by means of a pair of retainer rings 39 which are received in suitable recesses formed in both the hub 25 and the spokes 37. The retainer rings 39 are maintained in position by means of screws 40 which pass through the rings 39 and into the hub 25. By removing the screws 40 the rings 39 may be likewise removed and the spokes 36 may be replaced in case of damage.

The idler gear 23 is mounted for rotation upon a double race ball bearing 41 carried by a shaft 42 that is mounted in a generally U-sh-aped bracket 43 that extends over the spider wheel 20. Each end of the bracket 43 is rigidly secured to the cover plate 27 by means of a plurality of screws 44 and the shaft 42 is mounted parallel to both the shaft 18 and the stub shaft 33 in a slot 45 formed in the bracket 43. A hub cap 46 is mounted on the outermost surface of the pulling wheel 16 and serves to prevent foreign material from entering the interior of the pulling Wheel 16 and damaging the gear train 21.

In the embodiment of the apparatus shown in FIG. 4, there is shown a pulling wheel 47 which is substantially identical to the pulling wheel 16 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The shaft 48 which carries the pulling wheel 16 turns at a speed of approximately 4,000 rpm. and mounts a timing sprocket 49 which forms a positive drive for a spider wheel 50 which is substantially identical to the spider wheel 20. More particularly, a stub shaft 51 mounts the spider wheel 50 that carries a timing pulley 52 instead of a gear. The pulley 52 is connected to the sprocket 49 in timed relation by means of a suitable timing belt 53.

Referring to FIG. 4, the shaft 51 mounts the spider wheel 50 for rotational movement about an axis located closer to the peripheral surface of the pulling wheel 47 than to the longitudinal axis of the wheel 47 defined by the shaft 48, and spokes 54 which extend outwardly from a hub 55 move through slots 56 on the pulling wheel 47 in a relatively small arc of rotation of both the pulling 4 wheel 47 and the spider wheel 50. The timing belt 53 is driven by the sprocket 49 and, in turn, drives the pulley 52 which is keyed to the shaft 51. This rotates the spider wheel 50 at a-high speed in synchronization with the pulling wheel 47.

The pulling wheel 57 shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 has a plurality of equally spaced slots 58 formed in its periphery. A shaft 59 which is substantially parallel to a drive shaft 60 but located closer to the outermost periphery of the pulling wheel 57 than to the drive shaft 60 carries a spider wheel 61 having a hub 62. Circumferentially spaced outwardly extending spokes 63 positioned in radial slots in hub 62 protrude through the slots 58 to engage the strand and push it out of contact with the pulling wheel 57.

The pulling wheel 57 which has a hub 64 that is secured to the drive shaft 60 by means of a key 65 is rotated in synchronization with the spider wheel 61 by means of a ring gear 66 which is secured to the inner peripheral surface of the pulling wheel 57. A spur gear 67 is secured to the spider wheel 61 by means of suitable screws 68 extending through the hub 62 into the gear 67. Thus, as the motor (not shown) drives the shaft 60 and the pulling wheel 57 which is keyed thereto, the spider wheel 61 is driven in synchronization therewith by means of the ring gear 66 and the spur gear 67.

A retaining ring 69 which is carried by the hub 62 is received in suitable slots 70 in the spokes 63, and the ring 69 is secured to the hub 62 by means of a plurality of screws 71 extending therethrough. By removing the screws 71 the retaining ring 69 is removed from the hub 62 and the slots 70 thereby permitting the spokes 63 to be withdrawn from their respective slots in the hub 62.

While various embodiments have been shown in FIGS. 16 of the invention, each of the spider wheels is mounted for rotative movement about an axis which is located closer to the peripheral edge of the pulling wheel than to the axis of rotation of the wheel. Thus the spokes extend through the space between adjacent spaced members forming the periphery of the pulling wheel for engaging the strand and pushing it out of contact with the pulling wheel. Each of the spider wheels is preferably less than one-half the diameter of the pulling wheel; thus the spokes extend through the pulling wheel for a relatively small arc of rotation of both the pulling wheel and the spider wheel in order to ensure the removal of strand at the same point on the periphery of the pulling wheel.

We claim:

1. In apparatus for longitudinally feeding a multifilament continuous strand, comprising a substantially hollow rotary pulling wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced periphery forming elements for form ing an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion, a motor for rotating said pulling wheel at high speed, a cover plate positioned between said motor and said pulling wheel, a ring encircling said cover plate and mounted on said periphery forming elements for rotation with said pulling wheel to guide said strand into engagement with said periphery forming elements, a plurality of circumferentially spaced members each movable through one of the spaces between adjacent ones of said periphery forming elements on said wheel for contacting said strand, means for mounting said spaced members for rotational movement, and driving means within said pulling wheel operatively connected to said mounting means for rotating said mounting means at high speed in synchronization with said pulling wheel.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the driving means comprise a gear train mounted within said substantially hollow pulling wheel inwardly of said interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the driving means comprises a ring gear within the pulling wheel 5 adjacent the interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface and a spur gear on the mounting means.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the driving means comprises a timing belt within said pulling wheel operatively engageable between the means for rotating the pulling wheel and the mounting means.

5. Apparatus for longitudinally feeding a multifilament continuous strand comprising a substantially hollow rotary pulling wheel having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, periphery forming elements for forming an interrupted cylindrical peripheral surface for strand contact and adhesion, a motor for rotating said pulling wheel at high speed, a plurality of circumferentially spaced members successively movable through successive spaces between said periphery forming elements on said pulling wheel for contacting said strand, means for mounting said spaced members for rotational movement, and driving means within said pulling member and operatively connected to said mounting means for rotating said mounting means at high speed in synchroniza- 6 tion with said pulling wheel, said driving means being powered by the rotation of the pulling Wheel.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the driving means comprises a gear train.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the driving means includes a ring gear secured to the pulling wheel in proximity to the peripheral surface thereof, and a spur gear on the mounting means.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the driving means includes a timing belt operatively engageable between the means for rotating the pulling wheel and the mounting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,581,866 Kershaw Ian. 8, 1952 2,761,936 Drummond Feb. 15, 1955 2,868,358 Russell Jan. 13, 1959 3,010,632 Brautigam Nov. 28, 1961 3,014,629 Cunningham et al. Dec. 26, 1961 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR LONGITUDINALLY FEEDING A MULTIFILAMENT CONTINUOUS STRAND, COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY HOLLOW ROTARY PULLING WHEEL HAVING A PLURALITY OF CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED PERIPHERY FORMING ELEMENTS FOR FORMING AN INTERRUPTED CYLINDRICAL PERIPHERAL SURFACE FOR STRAND CONTACT AND ADHESION, A MOTOR FOR ROTATING SAID PULLING WHEEL AT HIGH SPEED, A COVER PLATE POSITIONED BETWEEN SAID MOTOR AND SAID PULLING WHEEL, A RING ENCIRCLING SAID COVER PLATE AND MOUNTED ON SAID PERIPHERY FORMING ELEMENTS FOR ROTATION WITH SAID PULLING WHEEL TO GUIDE SAID STRAND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID PERIPHERY FORMING 